D.I.Y. PROJECT IDEAS

D.I.Y. WOODCUT BLOCK PRINT CARDS

HEARTH & HOME HERALD

SACK O' ALMANAC

AUTUMN AT A GLANCE

GENERAL MONTHLY TASKS for AUTUMN

SEPTEMBER

1.) COMPOST SPENT ANNUALS, WEED & CLEAN-UP GARDEN BEDS. 
2.) PLANT PERRENIALS & BULBS FOR SPRING BLOOM WHEN TEMP. DROPS

     BELOW 6O F.
3.) RAKE 0.5 -1 INCH OF COMPOST INTO PATCHY LAWNS, FERTILIZE & OVER-SEED.
4.) CONTINUE MOWING. CYCLE GRASS CLIPPINGS & MULCHED LEAVES  
     BACK INTO LAWN.

5.) HARVEST END OF SUMMER CROPS & KEEP CANNING FOR WINTER.  
6.) PLANT NEW TREES & SHRUBS. PRUNE PLUM TREES RIGHT AFTER  
     THE LAST OF SEASONS HARVEST.

OCTOBER
1.) PLANT TREES & SHRUBS TO ESTABLISH IN TIME FOR WINTER. 
2.) PLANT WINTER ANNUALS SUCH AS PANSIES, MUMS,  ETC.
3.) FEED & TEND TO COMPOST BINS.
4.) DIG UP EXCESS OVERGROWN PERRENIALS FOR TRANSPLANTING 
        ELSEWHERE OR JUST TO CONTAIN SPREAD.
5.) KEEP ON TOP OF FALL DEBRI CLEAN-UP.
6.) CUT BACK ALL SPRING/SUMMER BLOOMING PERRENIALS.
7.) HARVEST TIME FOR PUMPKINS, SQUASH, POTATO, ROOT CROPS. 
8.) PLANT WINTER GREENS, LETTUCE, SPINACH, ONIONS, ETC.  
9.) WRAP UP OUTDOOR PAINTING PROJECTS.  

10.) WINTERIZE YOUR HOME. SEAL UP ANY ENTRANCES THAT RODENTS
        MIGHT GET IN.
11.) AS OUTDOOR LIGHT DIMINISHES, TAKE DOWN SCREENS & WASH
        SUMMER DUST OFF WINDOWS.
12.) SOW COVER CROPS IN GARDEN BEDS TO BE TILLED IN FOR EXTRA

        NITROGEN RICH SOIL NEXT SPRING.
13.) BROADCAST WILDFLOWER SEEDS FOR SPRING BLOOM OR MEADOWS.  
14.) KEEP BIRD FEEDERS & BATHS FILLED IN TIME FOR THEIR  
      JOURNEY SOUTH FOR THE WINTER.

NOVEMBER
1.) GOOD MONTH FOR PLANTING & TRANSPLANT TREES, SHRUBS TO ESTABLISH 

      IN TIME FOR WINTER.

2.) CUT BACK ALL SPRING/SUMMER BLOOMING PERRENIALS.
3.) DORMANT SPRAYS CAN BE APPLIED TO FLOWERING TREES, DECIDUOUS PLANTS,
      FRUIT TREES. *(SEE RECIPE BELOW).

4.) HARVEST TIME FOR PUMPKINS, SQUASH, POTATOES & OTHER ROOT CROPS.

5.) PLANT WINTER GREENS, LETTUCE, SPINACH, ONIONS, ETC. 

6.) PLANT WINTER ANNUALS SUCH AS PANSIES, MUMS,  ETC. 

7.) KEEP BIRD FEEDERS & BATHS FILLED, BUT BEGIN TO TAPER OFF FEED

      SUPPLY SO TO ENCOURAGE OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS’ SOUTHERN

      MIGRATION FOR THE WINTER.

*"D.I.Y" DORMANT SPRAY RECIPE:

          -1 GALLON OF WATER

          -2 TBSP. VEGETABLE OIL

          -2 TBSP. BAKING SODA

          -2 TBSP. CASTILE SOAP

SACK O ALMANAC

SACK o' ALMANAC

VEGETABLES CALENDAR

Hey Everybody! It's the new "VEGETABLES SOW and HARVEST CALENDAR"!! This calendar was developed for the Pacific Northwest Hardiness Zones 7 - 9.  Some planting and harvest times may vary for your region, so this calendar represents a rough average. Most seed starts for spring planting can be started indoors as early as February and March. Before transplanting, be sure to find out your average "1st Frost Date" and "Final Frost Date" for your area. Seattle's final frost is, generally, sometime around mid-March, and first frost around mid-November.  GOOD LUCK!!!

SUMMER AT A GLANCE

MONTHLY GARDEN TO-DO LIST

JUNE

1.) ADD COMPOST TO LAWN & GARDEN BEDS.  
2.) GOOD TIME TO ADD NEW PERENNIALS TO GARDEN BEDS & CONTAINERS.  
3.) TEND TO & FERTILIZE ROSES. PLACE & SECURE CLIMBING ROSES.
4.) CLEAR OUT SPENT SPRING BULB FLOWERS & DEBRI FROM BEDS. 
5.) PRIMETIME FOR WEEDING & MORNING GLORY PATROL.
6.) FOR LAWNS, WATER MORE, LESS OFTEN RATHER THAN LESS,  
     MORE OFTEN & IN THE LATER PART OF THE DAY. 
7.) GATHER & DRY EDIBLE HERBS FOR TEAS, COOKING,  
     FRAGRANT BOUQUETS, STORAGE & LATER USE.  
8.) BEST TIME TO START WEATHER SENSITIVE OUTDOOR  
     PROJECTS AND RENOVATIONS.
9.) CLEAR OUT SPENT SPRING BULB FLOWERS & DEBRI FROM 
     GARDEN BEDS. 
10.) SET OUT NEW STARTS OF TOMATO, PUMPKIN, POTATO, BRUSSEL 
     SPROUTS, EGGLPLANT, GARLIC, PEAS, ONION, CARROT, GREENS
11.) REDUCE MOSQUITO & OTHER INSECTS BY REGULARLY  
     CHANGING OUT BIRD-BATHS & KID’S POOLS, ETC.

JULY

1.) WRAP UP FERTILIZING OF TREES, SHRUBS & BERRIES SO THAT NEW GROWTH    
      HAS TIME TO HARDEN OFF BEFORE WINTER.
2.) KEEP ON TOP OF WEEDING, CLEAN-UP & WATERING.
3.) PRUNE FLOWERING SHRUBS AFTER ALL THE BLOOMS ARE FINISHED.
4.) FERTILIZE ROSES & ANNUALS. PINCH BACK ANNUALS.
5.) ADD 2-3 INCHES OF MULCH TOP DRESSING TO BEDS & AROUND 
      NEWLY TRANSPLANTED TREES.
6.) TIME TO PLANT YOUR HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS.
7.) PLANT CARROTS, GREENS, SUMMER SQUASH, KALE, ONION, SNAP PEAS,
      POTATOES, TOMATO, GARLIC, SUNFLOWERS.
8.) MAINTAIN A STEADY HARVEST ROUTINE TO ENSURE THE    
      BEST YIELD.

AUGUST

1.) CLEAN-UP SPENT BLOOMS, FALLEN FRUIT, WEEDS & OTHER DEBRI
2.) REMOVE “SUCKERS” FROM FRUIT TREES & KEEP WATERED.
3.) PRUNE BACK LAURELS.
4.) FILL & TEND TO COMPOST BINS.
5.) CHANGE OUT BIRD-BATHS & RE-FILL FEEDERS.
6.) PLANT BROCCOLI, CORN, SQUASH, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, GREENS.
7.) CONTINUE CANNING & COLLECTING HERBS TO DRY.
8.) CONTINUE TO MOW. WATER LAWN & GARDEN AS NEEDED. 

SPRING AT A GLANCE

GENERAL MONTHLY TASKS

MARCH

1.) ADD ORGANIC FERTILIZER TO LAWNS, DECIUOUS TREES & SHRUBS.

2.) REPAIR WINTER DAMAGE TO LAWNS. WEED, THATCH, SEED, AERATE.

3.) GET THE JUMP ON WEEDS BEFORE THEY SEED. 

4.) GOOD TIME TO PLANT SEASONAL ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, BIENNIALS, BULBS,

        AND TUBERS.

5.) FERTILIZE, ROTATE, MIST, WATER & PINCH BACK OLD GROWTH OF INDOOR

        PLANTS.

6.) PRUNE & FERTILIZE ROSES.

APRIL

1.) ADD MULCH TO GARDEN BEDS.

2.) KEEP GRASS MOWED TO 2 IN. RECOMMENDED. TWICE A MONTH OR AS NEEDED.

3.) PRUNE EVERGREEN SHRUBS.

4.) LOCATE & REMOVE ANY MORNING GLORY.

MAY

1.) PINCH BACK & CLEAN-UP DEAD EARLY BLOOMS, ANNUALS.

2.) TEND TO ROSES. WATCH FOR BLACKSPOT, APHIDS, ETC. *(SEE SPRAY RECIPE)

3.) INCREASE MOWING LAWN TO ONCE A WEEK OR AS NEEDED. 

4.) RAKE IN/“CYCLE” GRASS CLIPPINGS BACK INTO LAWN. ADD & STIR

        EXCESS CLIPPINGS INTO COMPOST.

SACK O' ALMANAC

PRUNING CALENDAR

INTRODUCING..... The Month-to-Month Pruning Calendar to help you plan your seasonal gardening routine! These are some of the more common plants I find in most folks' gardens around town.  Some plants (roses, etc.) require special pruning at different points throughout the seasons.  In such cases, I have focused on the best "hard prune" dates.  This Calendar was developed for Pacific Northwest hardiness zones 7 and 8.  ENJOY!!

HOMESTEADER'S PRUNING CALENDAR

SACK o' ALMANAC

WINTER AT A GLANCE

GENERAL MONTHLY TASKS

DECEMBER
1.) CONTINUE TO STIR COMPOST BINS.  
2.) GOOD TIME TO PLANT ROSES, PERENIALS & BIENNIALS, BERRIES, FRUIT TREES. 
3.) PRUNE HYDRANGEAS, DECIDUOUS SHRUBS, FRUIT TREES.  
4.) APPLY DORMANT SPRAYS TO FRUIT TREES & DECIDUOUS SHRUBS, AVOIDING
        CONTACT WITH ANNUALS.

JANUARY
1.) ADD 2 - 3 INCH LAYER OF MULCH TO GARDEN BEDS.
2.) CLEAN & SERVICE LAWN & GARDEN TOOLS.  
3.) FERTILIZE, ROTATE & MIST INDOOR PLANTS.  
4.) PRUNE VULNERABLE BRANCHES OF DECIDUOUS TREES & ROSES TO PROTECT
        FROM WINTER WEATHER DAMAGE.

FEBRUARY
1.) ADD A LAYER OF COMPOST TO TREES & GARDEN BEDS. 
2.) PRUNE ROSES, HYDRANGEAS, DECIDUOUS SHRUBS, FRUIT TREES.
3.) ADD ORGANIC FERTILIZER TO SHRUBS, EVERGREENS & ROSES. 
4.) CONTROL PESTS & DISEASE ON FRUIT TREES BY USING A MIXTURE OF
        2oz. GARLIC INFUSED OIL, 2oz. LIQUID CASTILE SOAP and 1 PINT OF WATER
        IN A SPRAY BOTTLE.


*D.I.Y. TIP: 
 IN PLACE OF LIME, FIREPLACE WOOD ASH CAN BE USED TO AMEND ACIDIC SOIL IN YOUR GARDEN AND PINE NEEDLES FOR ALKALINE SOIL. BE SURE TO TEST YOUR SOIL PH BEFORE MAKING ANY SUCH AMENDMENTS.

SACK 'O ALMANAC